# naming a boat SS/HMS .... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345 "2003-09-03T16:30:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rodmunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@rodmunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rodmunch)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345/1 "2003-09-03T16:30:51Z")
are you allowed to name a boat SS or HMS something or other? i was watching an episode of family guy where peter named his boat the “SS more powerful than superman, batman, spiderman and the incredible hulk put together”. im homage to this i was thinking of doing the HMS equivelent. is this legal? if not, will it be likely enforced if anyone (coast guard etc) notices? one last question. what does ss stand for (i know hms stands for his/her majestys service) ---
**Author:** ![db4530](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@db4530](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/db4530)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345/2 "2003-09-03T16:33:53Z")
Don’t know about the legalities of the name, but SS stands for “Sailing Ship.” USS stands for “United States Ship.” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345/3 "2003-09-03T17:15:12Z")
Actually, SS stands for Steam Ship. (Prior to steam the vessels were generally identified by their rig, thus the _Schooner Bluenose_, the _Brig John Johnson_, etc. A description of _Ship_ indicated a full-rigged ship of three square-rigged masts. More recently, as steam has been replaced by diesel-electric, the abbreviation used has been _m.v._ (motor vessel).) While you can probably get away with naming your dingy or punt _HMS Rowboat_, I suspect that anything large enough to license by name will cause you some trouble if you attempt to put an “HMS” on it. I do not _know_ of any specific laws to prohibit it, but I suspect that there are some regulations regarding not choosing names that would cause confusion in radio traffic and similar situations. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345/4 "2003-09-03T18:07:32Z")
As a matter of comity, I think the Coast Guard would reject a name prefixed by “H.M.S.” because that designates a vessel that is one of **H** er [Britannic] **Majesty** ’s **S** hips, i.e., a vessel in the Royal Navy. The S.S. Queen Elizabeth II, a cruise liner, you will note, is not H.M.S., but the British equivalent of a PT-boat would be, presuming it were named. While British designations have no legal force in the U.S., the Coast Guard does have some rights over what designations will be used, for fairly obvious reasons (e.g., if they’re required to rescue it, they need to know what it is they’re rescuing). And “comity” is the term for the courtesy extended between nations that “I won’t use my sovereign powers to do something offensive to you, if you return the favor.” U.S.S., on the other hand, means “United States Ship” and refers only to any vessel with American registry, so “U.S.S. Stronger-Than-Superman-Etc.” would be an acceptable moniker, presuming the string of stuff behind it is OK to the U.S.C.G. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345/5 "2003-09-03T19:04:21Z")
> [@](#): > > [http://www.tallshiprose.org/info/history.html](http://www.tallshiprose.org/info/history.html) > Today’s “H.M.S.” Rose is a replica of a mid-eighteenth century Royal Navy frigate which figured in the Colonial and Revolutionary history of the United States. While she is a replica of a British Colonial era vessel, today’s Rose is an American ship and she is documented or registered as such. Although she is sometimes referred to as “H.M.S.” Rose, her official documented name is simply Rose. It is important to note that, in referring to today’'s Rose, the initials (for ‘His Majesty’s Ship’) are always enclosed in quotation marks to indicate that they represent more of a nickname than any official designation. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345/6 "2003-09-03T19:42:18Z")
[hijack] Local Star Trek fan clubs are (or at least used to be) named U.S.S. Whatever, following the conventions established in the show on naming starships. The Ithaca, New York Trek club is named U.S.S. Accord, in honor (or so I’ve been told) of one of the members’ cars. [/hijack] –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345/7 "2003-09-03T21:34:48Z")
The following comes from the FAQ at the Coast Guard’s [National Vessel Documentation Center](http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/faq.htm#11) > [@](#): > > WHAT ARE THE VESSEL NAME AND HAILING PORT MARKING REQUIREMENTS? > Documented vessels do not display their official numbers on the outside of the hull, but are identified by the name and hailing port. The application for documentation must include a name for the vessel composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals and may not exceed 33 characters. The name may not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; may not contain or be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets. Once established, a vessel’s name may not be changed without application, fees, and the consent of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center. There is no rule against duplication of names for documented vessels, so hailing ports are helpful in identifying vessels. In short, this applies to “documented” vessels. Small pleasure craft (say, less that 25-30’) are usually registered with the state. I’m sure that each state sets up their own rules on naming. The info from the FAQ will stem from law, which I will try to dig up, to see if it addresses the HMS or USS issues. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naming-a-boat-ss-hms/199345/8 "2003-09-03T21:44:14Z")
The Code of Federal Regulations says pretty much exactly what the FAQ said. 46CFR67.117: > [@](#): > > TITLE 46–SHIPPING > > ``` > CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION--CONTINUED > > ``` > > PART 67–DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS–Table of Contents > > ``` > Subpart H--Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel > Documentation > > ``` > > Sec. 67.117 Vessel name designation. > > ``` > (a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on > > ``` > > the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of > Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) > submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center: > (1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or > (2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel. > (b) The name designated: > (1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or > Roman numerals; > (2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or > words used to solicit assistance at sea; and > (3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, > indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets. > © The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the > prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center. > (d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the > name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not > apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994. This is not to say that those designations are legit; there may be elsewhere in the code something that prohibits it. Code is written funny like that sometimes. Either way, your name on the Doc application will either be accepted or rejected, hopefully with a reason given if the latter.